Precision grasping in humans: from motor control to cognition

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Motor Control
• Cognitive Neuroscience

Background:

• Functional neuroimaging is valuable for mapping human motor circuits in skilled hand movements.
• A limitation of neuroimaging is determining individual cortical area contributions to precision grasping.
• Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) offers a method to induce virtual lesions and assess causal roles in motor behavior.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide an overview of recent studies on the neural correlates of precision grasping.
• To explore the contribution of the motor system to higher cognitive functions like language and number processing.
• To highlight the interaction between cognitive processes and motor actions.

Main Methods:

• Utilizing transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) to create transient virtual lesions in healthy subjects.
• Investigating the specific contribution, timing, and hemispheric lateralization of parietal and frontal areas in precision grasping.
• Reviewing recent research on the neural basis of skilled hand movements and cognitive functions.

Main Results:

• Recent TMS studies have identified distinct parietal and frontal areas critical for precision grasping.
• These studies have elucidated the timing and hemispheric lateralization of these motor control areas.
• Evidence suggests overlapping cortical networks for motor control, language, and number processing.

Conclusions:

• Distinct parietal and frontal cortical areas causally contribute to precision grasping control.
• The motor system, particularly these identified areas, may play a role in higher cognitive functions.
• There are significant interactions between cognitive processes and motor system functions, suggesting integrated neural networks.